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Posted on April 1, 2006 by Alphonso Sirtle.. | Posted under Home and Family
4 Tips For Purchasing The Best Hot Water Heater For Your Needs
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While every manufacturer will claim to have the best possible hot water heater for your household, your decision should be made on your own knowledge of hot water heaters. Do you need a 50-, 75-, or 100-gallon hot water tank? Do you need a traditional tank hot water heater, or can you benefit from a tankless hot water heater? These are just a few questions you should explore before you choose the right hot water heater for your household. 1. Too tank or not too tank. This is one of the first choices you will be faced with. However, many people have yet to hear about tankless hot water heaters. The technology is still in its infancy, but is a valid alternative to the tradition hot water heaters that have tanks. With a tankless water heater, the water is superheated as needed. There is no holding tank for the water. You get an endless supply of hot water that is only created when you request the hot water. This offers many benefits that the tank hot water heaters can not offer. For example, there is no sediment buildup that can cause foul water, and is a breeding ground for bacterium. However, there are cons to owning a tankless hot water heater. You need about two tankless water heaters to run simultaneously to get the proper amount of water pressure to run multiple water systems at once. These tankless water heaters do not have the same life expectancy of the tank hot water heaters. There have been reported issues with tankless systems that are lemons right from the start. However, there are wonderful warranties that far surpass the tank hot water heaters. One addition note: tankless hot water heaters help save the environment. 2. How much do you need? You should always decide how much hot water you need at the highest point of the day. I usually say that you need about 25-gallons per adult, and about 10-gallons per child. I would settle for no less that a 50-gallon tank. This is not a scientific validated calculation. This is my own opinion, and how I measure the holding tank capacity my household requires. These is also the possibility of owning a tankless hot water heater. These should be purchased the same way. If you get one that is too small for your household needs, you will run out of not hot water, but hot water pressure. This can also overwork the tankless hot water heater. Th best suggestion is to get the largest one you possibly can afford. You should also purchase a smaller one for use with your dishwasher if your dishwasher does not have an internal heating element. You can purchase a tank hot water heater, and supplement it with a tankless water heater. This works perfectly for many people. Myself, I have two tankless water heaters that work simultaneously, and this gives my household more than enough hot water. 3. Deciding on cost efficiency. Now let us explore cost. A traditional tank hot water heater will range from $300 USD to well over $1,000 USD. This will depend a lot of model, manufacturer, and the tanks capacity. You can purchase a tankless water heater for right around the same cost. However, you may need more than one tankless hot water heater. With the traditional tank hot water heater, you get a warranty that is usually good for 2 years. The warranty will only cover the very first incident of a specific problem. You usually are responsible for shipping and handling. Tankless hot water heaters usually have a much better warranty. I have found one model that will offer a lifetime warranty. The warranty is usually better on the tankless hot water heaters. 4. The truth is in the customer service. I am not fond of any of the large manufacturers for customer service. I have found the majority of them are rude, incompetent, and disrespectful - I am being nice. I do not care if you purchase a traditional tank hot water heater or a tankless hot water heater, the smaller manufacturers have a lot better customer service, and warranty. If you plan on ever calling customer service, you are much better off getting a smaller companies hot water heater. Of course, there are exceptions to this rule, but for the most part, it is a valid rule to follow. When you decide it is time for a new hot water heater, knowing what to expect during the purchase process, and after, will make a huge difference in what you get. You will not always get the best simply because it costs the most, or because it is from a manufacturer that you recognize. Do your research, and your hot water heater - both tank and tankless - will serve your household for years to come. About The Author: Alphonso has been working in the home remodeling industry for last 5 years. Take advantage of his experience and written material on heater ideas at his website at http://www.improve-home.com |
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